The Guru Report: Top Two Seeds 1-Black/D2-Jefferson and 2-Maroon/D2-USciences Alums Upset in Philly/Suburban Women’s Semifinals

By Bob Heller and Mel Greenberg @womhoopsguru

HATBORO, Pa. - In terms of drama, apparently the best was saved for next-to-last Wednesday night in the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Summer Basketball League semifinals in historic fashion with the top two seeds, unbeaten Black/Jefferson and once-beaten Maroon/USciences Undergrads both upset at Kelly Bolish Gym, home of the AAU Renegades.

The opener saw sixth-seed Pink/USciences Alumnae ruin top-seed Black/Jefferson’s previously unbeaten run in the eight-team league with a low-scoring 44-38 shocker.

In some regard as noted in our preview the outcome was not considered impossible. 

Black (8-1) has stumbled in the playoffs before and Pink’s now 5-4 record and sixth seed belied a roster that had performed well in the winter Division 2 small college wars as undergrads battling the Rams in the   Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). 

And the seed, which at one point on the final night of the regular season loomed as a four, was disrupted when Sky Blue/D2-Holy Family, the 2019 surprise champion, got enough points in the second half of its final game in a loss to take the spot on what was a three-way tie-break at four with 3-4 records, all 1-1 against each other and none with a victory against the top three teams.

Pink was then relegated to sixth off a narrow 50-47 loss to Orange/D2-Chestnut Hill, another CACC member, on July 29, the final night of the regular season, an outcome that deprived Pink of an outright four seed and forced the three-way deadlock.

Meanwhile, with Wednesday’s first game dispensed, Devils fans could envision an all-USciences final as 2-seed Maroon, whose only loss had been a rare blowout to Black in terms of differential, took the floor against 5-seed Orange, which Maroon eclipsed 58-52 in their regular season meeting.

But Chestnut Hill had Cinderella ideas and snipped the Devils 51-44, finishing them off at 7-2 and closing out their run as an undergrad entry with the school set to merge with D-1 Saint Joseph’s after the Spring 2022 semester.

With two low scoring games no one reached the individual 20 points or more milestone. 

Under NCAA rules, small colleges can field their entire units in summer league play.

This was the first year in the league a second squad of dominated players from one school competed.

Thus, the move paved off as Pink and Orange, both 5-4, return Thursday night for the championship, on Court 1, now moved a half-hour later to what had been the traditional early tip times of 7 p.m.

It’s the first 5-6 seed matchup in league history. 

Bob notes in 2015 there was a 3-seed vs. 7-seed final. The three had former Saint Joseph’s stars Katie kuester and Erin Shields. The seven then was Purple or those USciences undergrads paced by a trio of Molly Greenberg, Sarah Abbonizio, and Laura Trisch, which upset the 2-seed in the quarterfinals, and top-seed in the semis.

That same threesome is now back in the finals as part of the USciences grad contingent on Pink.

When the playoffs began, the top two seeds and three-seed Kelly Green/D2-Kutztown had been 15-0 against the other five teams.

But Pink ousted Kelly in the Quarterfinals and then ambushed Black while Orange after ejecting Holy Family shocked Maroon.

There were a combine 98-players on the rosters in mid-June and now it’s down to 27 - 12 on Pink and 15 on Orange, though they claim two had stopped appearing.

With all that said Bob will recap both games and then we’ll follow our advance game style bringing back the two rosters, the season result logs, and Bob’s earlier recap of the previous meeting.

SEMINFINALS RECAPS

#6 Team Pink 44    #1 Team Black 38

 

The sixth seeded Team Pink (USciences alums with a mix of DIII players) recorded the biggest upset of the 2021 edition of the Philadelphia/Suburban Women’s Basketball Summer League, handing top seed Team Black (Jefferson University) their first loss of the season 44-38.

Black was perfect through the entire regular season, posting a 7-0 record, including a 60-47 win over Pink and cruised through their quarterfinal round over #8 Team Red 94-34.  

Pink finished 3-4 on the regular season and upset #3 seed Kelly Green 45-33 in the quarterfinals last week.

Irisa Ye and Jordan vitelli led Pink with 15 and 11 points respectively while Jen Kremp (Dickinson’22) added eight.

 Haley Meinel led Black with 15 points with Cassie Murphy chipping in nine.

Pink used a combination of defense and some hot outside shooting to keep Black at bay for much of the evening.  

Two three pointers from Vitelli with a Ye three-ball sandwiched in-between followed by a Ye layup gave Pink and 11-4 lead.  Black rallied to tie the game at 11-11 with baskets from Emma Kuczynski and Meinel plus two Meinel free throws to complete a 7-0 run to end the quarter.

An 11-5 run by Pink to open the second quarter pushed their lead to 22-16.  

Three-pointers from Sarah Abbonizio and Laura Trisch highlighted the run.  

Similar to the first quarter Black again rallied, scoring the final six points of the quarter to tie the game again, 22-22 at halftime.

A third quarter three-point basket from Meinel gave Black their first lead since 2-0, 27-25.

  Kremp countered with a three-ball of her own allowing Pink to retake the lead 28-27 before Sabria Lytes tied again with a free throw.  

Ye then took over the Pink offense, scoring six straight points to give the underdog squad a 34-28 lead. 

 Meinel sank another three pointer to pull Black within three 34-31 heading into the final period.

Murphy pulled Black within two, 37-35 with just over six minutes remaining.  

Both teams exchanged baskets before Ye put Pink back up by four 41-37 with 2:35 left. 

 Murphy’s free throw closed the gap to three 41-38 before Vitelli sank a big three pointer giving Pink a six-point lead 44-38.  

Pink’s defense then stopped the black offense and held the ball for the final 1:28 to secure the win.

Pink will play #5 seed Team Orange who upset #2 seed Team Maroon 51-45.  Tip off will be at 7:00 p.m.  on Thursday August 12.

 

#5 Team Orange 51    #2 Team Maroon 45

Fifth Seed Team Orange (Chestnut Hill College) recorded the second upset of the night, knocking off #2 seed Team Maroon (USciences undergrads), 51-45.

Maroon never led but managed to forge three ties in the first quarter as Orange controlled the tempo from the opening tap while getting scoring production from nine different players en route to the upset win.

Trinity Brittingham and Emily Chmiel led Orange with 12 and 10 points respectively.   Lauren Crim and Morgan Orloski added six points apiece.  

Taylor Hamm led Maroon with eight points while Jess Huber and Kendall Keyes chipped in seven points apiece.

Brittingham broke a 6-6 tie with a long three-point bucket late in the first quarter as Orange closed out the period with a 7-0 run to take a 13-6 lead. Chmiel and Crim each added a basket to cap off the run.

A second Brittingham three-ball early in the second quarter pushed the Orange lead to 16-8 and started an 11-6 run that increased their lead to double digits 24-14.  

Maroon cut the lead in half with a 7-2 run capped by a Huber basket late in the quarter.  

Brianna Rider scored twice in the final two minutes to give Orange a 30-23 lead at halftime. 

The two teams exchanged baskets in the first five minutes of the third quarter as the Orange lead oscillated between five and nine points.  

A Maroon basket by Harlem Jennings cut the lead to six before Cassie Sebold sank a three-pointer and Chmiel made one of two from the free throw line to give Orange a double-digit lead for the second time 40-30.  

Maroon shaved two points off the lead to trail by eight 42-34 heading into the final period.

Orange still led by eight with 5:22 left before Crim pushed the lead back up to ten 48-38.  

Following an exchange of baskets, Huber scored the next five points, pulling Maroon within five 50-45 with 2:03 left.  

Her three-point basket however would be the final points scored by Maroon as the Orange defense forced turnovers and Huber’s three-point attempt that could have pulled Maroon within two with under a minute went in and out of the cylinder.  

Orange tacked on a free throw to round out the scoring.

Orange will make their first trip to the league championship on Thursday august 12.  

They will face #6 seed Team Pink who upset top seed Black earlier in the evening.  

The game will mark the first time a #5 and #6 seed will meet in the championship game.  Tipoff will be at 7:00 p.m.

CHAMPIONSHIP

5-Orange/D2-Chestnut Hill (5-4) vs. 6-Pink/D2-USciences Alumnae (5-4)

Rosters

Team Orange (D-2 Chestnut Hill) - 15 Players

     

4   Trinity Brittingham 5’8  St. George’s Technical HS/Chestnut Hill ’23    

5   Kaitlyn C. Carter 5’11 Penn Charter/Chestnut Hill ’24   

10 Emily Chmiel 6’2  CB East/Chestnut Hill ’25      

11 Lauren Crim 5’5  Lansdale Catholic/Chestnut Hill ’23      

12 Maura Conroy 5’5  Gwynedd Mercy/Chestnut Hill ’22      

13 Kayla Dougherty 5’6  Williamstown HS/Chestnut Hill ’24     

14 Brianna Hewlett 5’9  North Penn HS/Chestnut Hill ’22      

15 Lindsey Lane 5’11  Haverford/Chestnut Hill ’23       

20 Rachael Millan 5’8  Lower Moreland/Chestnut Hill ’22      

21 Morgan Orloski 5’5  Bethlehem Catholic/Chestnut Hill ’22     

22 Brianna Rider 5’11  St. Timothy’s School/Chestnut Hill ’25      

23 Cassie Sebold 5’5  Arch. Wood/Chestnut Hill ’22        

24 Abigail Spratt 5’6  Central Bucks W./Chestnut Hill ’22    

25 Morgan Sterner 5’6  Northampton Area HS/Chestnut Hill ’25     

30 Amber Washington 5’1  St. George’s Technical HS/Chestnut Hill ‘23    

Team Pink  (D2-USciences Alums) - 12 Players

 

4   Sarah Abbonizio  5’8   Episcopal Academy/USciences ’18   

5   Allie Crone  5’8     USciences 

10 Molly Greenberg  5’6   St. Basil Academy/USciences 

11 Melia Kolb  5’7  Jenkintown/USciences/Dickinson College ’23      

12 Natalie Kolb  5’7 Jenkintown/USciences/Franklin & Marshall  ’23   

13 Ashley Kremp  5’9 Jenkintown/USciences/Penn State ’22   

14 Jen Kremp  5’8  Jenkintown/USciences/Dickinson College ’22     

15 Shannon May  5’4  Archbishop Wood/USciences ’21   

20 Laura Trisch 5’10  Archbishop Wood/USciences ’18  

21 Irisa Ye 5’9  North Penn/USciences ’21   

22 Jordan Vitelli  5’6  Central Bucks South/USciences ’20 

23 Brigit Coleman 5’6  Gwynedd Mercy/USciences ’22    

Team Results to Date

5-Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill) 5-4

 

June 17: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), L 42-80

June 24: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 0-1), W 53-44

July 1: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 0-2), L 51-60

July 8: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-3), W 50-45

July 15: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 4-0), L 38-45

July 22: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 4-1), L 52-58

July 29: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 3-3), W 50-47

Aug. 5: vs. 4-Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 3-4), Qtr. W 72-64

Aug. 11: vs. 2-Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 7-1), S W 51-44

Aug. 12: vs. 6-Pink (D2-Usciences Alumnae 5-4), F 7 p.m.  Court 1’

6-Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae) 5-4

June 17: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), W 64-55

June 24: vs. Maroon (D2-Usciences 1-0), L 32-38

July 1: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 2-0), L 47-60

July 8: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 1-2), W 51-48

July 15: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 3-1), L 52-56

July 22: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-5), W 50-31

July 29: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 2-4), L 47-50

Aug. 5: vs. 3-Kelly (D2-Kutztown 5-2), Qtr.-W 45-33

Aug. 11: vs. 1-Black (D2-Jefferson 8-0), S W 44-38

Aug. 12: vs. 5-Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 5-4) F 7p.m., Court 1

Regular Season Recap

Orange 50   Pink 47

Team Orange (Chestnut Hill College) overcame a slow start and held off Team Pink (USciences alums) to earn a 50-47 win in one of the two early games Thursday night.

The win propelled Orange into a three-way tie in the middle of the pack with Pink and Sky Blue with 3-4 records.  

Following the league tie-break procedures Orange will hold the #5 seed for next week’s quarterfinals while Pink will have the #6 seed.

Brianna Rider and Brianna Hewlett led Orange with 13 and 12 points respectively.  

Jen Kremp (A Dickinson college senior) led Pink with 12 points while USciences grad Sarah Abbonizio added ten.

Pink got three-point baskets from Molly Greenberg, Kremp and Allie Crone to jump out to an early 9-0 lead.  

Orange battled back to pull within two with an 11-4 run with Rider scoring the last six points of the run. 

 Rider added her fourth basket of the quarter as time was running out, cutting Pink’s lead to 16-15.

Lauren Crim opened the second quarter with a basket to give Orange their first lead 17-16. 

 Orange increased their lead to four before Pink battled back to tie the score on a Laura Trisch three-pointer.  Emily Chmiel added a basket to give Orange a 27-25 lead at the half.

The Orange lead grew to as large as six before Abbonizio and Trisch made back-to-back three-pointers late in the quarter to tie the game at 36-36 before Chmiel put Orange back on top with a free throw.

Abbonizio opened the fourth quarter with a three-point basket to give Pink a 39-37 lead.  The two teams traded leads twice before Orange took the lead for good with two baskets by Trinity Brittingham, 47-43, the last with just under 40 seconds remaining.  Pink closed within two and was forced to foul.  Orange made three of four free throws in the final ten seconds to seal the three-point win.

Standings

 

(Thru Week 9 Semifinals, Played Wednesday, August 11)

(Games Behind Based on Regular Season)

 

Team        W  L  PCT.   GB    PF  PA

 

sx-Black  8  1  .889  —  581  378

s-Maroon 7  2 .778 1.0 480 410

q-Kelly  5  3  .625 2.0 500 387

q-Sky Blue 3  5  .375 4.0  454 452

f-Orange  5  4   .556 4.0 459 488

f-Pink  5  4  .556 4.0 432 409

q-Royal  1  7  .125 6.0 367 505

q-Red  0  8   .000  7.0  297 541

x-Clinched top seed

f-finalist

s-semifinalist

q-quarterfinalist

 

Players Scoring 20 or More Points

 

28-Sabria Lytes, Black, W, vs. Red, Qtrs-August 5

26-Leah Johnson, Kelly, W, vs. Royal, July 8

24-Haley Meinel, Black, W, vs. Red, Qtrs-August 5

24-Jess Huber, Maroon, W, vs. Sky Blue, July 29

23-Monee Moore, Sky Blue, W, vs. Royal Blue, July 22

23-Anna McTamney, Maroon, W, vs. Kelly, July 1

22-Dana Bandurick, Royal Blue, L, vs. Sky Blue, July 22

22-Dana Bandurick, Royal, L, vs. Pink, June 17

21-Leah Johnson, Kelly, W, Red, July 29

21-Annie Whalen, Kelly, W, Red, July 29

21-Irisa Ye, W, vs. Sky Blue, July 8

21-Jordan Vitelli, Pink, L, vs. Black, July 1

20-Emily Chmiel,  Orange, W, vs. Sky Blue, Qtrs-August 5

20-Bridget Arcidiacono, Black, W, vs. Red, June 24

20-Taylor Hamm, Maroon, W, vs. Red, June 17

Playoff Seed Tracker 

 

S-Black (8-1) vs. SB-W; vs. Rd-W; vs. Pk-W; vs. M-W; vs. O-W; vs. Ky-W; vs. Ry-W; vs. Red-W-Qtr; vs. P-L-S

 

S-Maroon (7-2) vs. Rd-W; vs. P-W; vs. Ky-W; vs. Bl-L; vs. Ry-W; vs. O-W;  vs. SB-W; vs. Ry-W-Qtr; vs. O-L-S

 

Q-Kelly (5-3) vs. O-W; vs. SB-W; vs. M-L; vs. Ry-W; vs. Pk-W; vs. Bl-L; vs. Rd-W; vs. P-L-Qtr.

 

Q-Sky Blue (3-5)  vs. Bl-L; vs. Ky-L: vs. O-W; vs. Pk-L; vs. Rd-W; vs, Ry-W; vs. M-L; vs. O-L- Qtr.

 

F-Orange (5-4) vs. Ky-L; vs. Ry-W; vs. SB-L; vs. Rd-W; vs. Bl-L; vs. M-L; vs. Pk-W; vs. SB-W-Qtr; vs. M-W-S; vs. Pk-F

 

F-Pink (5-4) vs. Ry-W; vs. M-L; vs. Bl-L; vs. SB-W; vs. Ky-L; vs. Rd-W; vs. O-L; vs. Ky-W-Qtr; vs. Bl-W-S; vs. O-F

 

Q-Royal (1-7) vs. Pk-L; vs. O-L; vs. Rd-W; vs .Ky-L; vs. M-L; vs. SB-L; vs. Bl-L; vs. M-L-Qtr.

 

Q-Red (0-8) vs. M-L; vs. Bl-L; vs. Ry-L; vs. O-L; vs. SB-L; vs, Pk-L; vs. Ky-L; vs. Bl-L-Qtr.

 

Codes: BL-Black; Ky-Kelly; M-Maroon; O-Orange; Pk-Pink; Rd-Red; Ry-Royal; SB-Sky Blue

S-Semifinalist

Qtr-Quarterfinalist

F-Finalist

Team By Team  Schedules/Results Thru Semifinals

 

8-Red (D3-Arcadia) 0-8 - Quarterfinalists

 

June 17: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads), L 32-73

June 24: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 1-0), L 44-78

July 1: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 0-2), L 37-52

July 8: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 1-2), L 45-50

July 15: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 1-3), L 33-61

July 22: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 2-3), L 31-50

July 29: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 4-2), L 41-83

Aug. 5: vs. 1-Black (D2-Jefferson 7-0), Qtr L 34-94

 

 5-Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill) 5-4 - Finalists

 

June 17: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown), L 42-80

June 24: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 0-1), W 53-44

July 1: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 0-2), L 51-60

July 8: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-3), W 50-45

July 15: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 4-0), L 38-45

July 22: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 4-1), L 52-58

July 29: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 3-3), W 50-47

Aug. 5: vs. 4-Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 3-4), Qtr. W 72-64

Aug. 11: vs. 2-Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 7-1), S W 51-44

Aug. 12: vs. 6-Pink (D2-Usciences Alumnae 5-4), F 7 p.m.  Court 1

 

4-Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family) 3-5 - Quarterfinalists

 

June 17: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson), L 49-73

June 24: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 1-0), L 50-60

July 1: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 1-1), W 60-51

July 8: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 1-2), L 48-51

July 15: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-4), W 61-33

July 22: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 1-4), W 83-44

July 29: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads (5-1), L 39-68

Aug. 5: vs. 5-Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 3-4), Qtr. L 64-72

 

1-Black (D2-Jefferson) 8-1 - Semifinalists

 

June 17: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family), W 73-49

June 24: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-1), W 78-44

July 1: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 1-1), W 60-47

July 8: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 3-0), W 65-26

July 15: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 2-2), W 45-38

July 22: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 4-1), W-54-43

July 29: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 1-5) , 74-53

Aug. 5: vs. 8-Red (D3-Arcadia 0-7), Qtr. W 94-34

Aug. 11: vs. 6-Pink (D2-USciences Alums 4-4), S L 38-44

 

3-Kelly (D2-Kutztown) 5-3 - Quarterfinalists

 

June 17: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill), W 80-42

June 24: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 0-1), W 60-50

July 1: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 2-0), L 60-63

July 8: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 1-2), W 85-40

July 15: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae 2-2), W 56-52

July 22: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 5-0), L 43-54

July 29: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-6), W 83-41

Aug. 5: vs. 6-Pink (D2-USciences Alums 4-4), Qtr. L 33-45

 

 7-Royal (D3-Ursinus) 1-7- Quarterfinalists

 

June 17: vs. Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae), L 55-64

June 24: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 1-0), L 44-53

July 1: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-2), W 52-37

July 8: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 2-1), L 40-85

July 15: vs. Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 3-1), L 50-61

July 22: vs. Sky Blue  (D2-Holy Family 2-3), L 44-83

July 29: vs. Black (Jefferson 6-0), L 53-74

Aug. 5: vs. 2-Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads 6-1), Qtr. L 29-48

 

2-Maroon (D2-USciences Undergrads) 7-2 - Semifinalists

 

June 17: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia), W 73-32

June 24: vs. Pink (USciences Alumnae 1-0 ), W 38-32

July 1: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 2-0), W 63-60

July 8: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 3-0), L 26-65

July 15: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 1-3), W 61-50

July 22: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 2-3), W 58-52

July 29: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 3-3), W 68-39

Aug. 5: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus 1-6), Qtr.-W 48-29

Aug. 11 vs. Orange D2-Chestnut Hill 4-4), S L 44-51

 

6-Pink (D2-USciences Alumnae) 5-4 - Finalists

 

 June 17: vs. Royal (D3-Ursinus), W 64-55

June 24: vs. Maroon (D2-Usciences 1-0), L 32-38

July 1: vs. Black (D2-Jefferson 2-0), L 47-60

July 8: vs. Sky Blue (D2-Holy Family 1-2), W 51-48

July 15: vs. Kelly (D2-Kutztown 3-1), L 52-56

July 22: vs. Red (D3-Arcadia 0-5), W 50-31

July 29: vs. Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 2-4), L 47-50

Aug. 5: vs. 3-Kelly (D2-Kutztown 5-2), Qtr.-W 45-33

Aug. 11: vs. 1-Black (D2-Jefferson 8-0), S W 44-38

Aug. 12: vs. 5-Orange (D2-Chestnut Hill 5-4) F 7p.m., Court 1